Latching device

ABSTRACT

A one-piece self biasing plastic latch member for retaining a movable closure member to a stationary member having a bolt member with integrally formed flexible arms adapted to bias the bolt member to an operative position for engagement by the stationary member. The latch may include a handle formed integral with the bolt member.

s Unite States Patent [191 [111 3,724,889 Dooley [451 Apr. 3, 1973 I 1 LATCHING DEVICE 2,203,202 6/1940 Kun ..292 s7 2,765,096 10/1956 Sharp [75] Inventor" jeffemnvue 3,125,366 3/1964 Cetrone etal ..292/l69 [73] Asslgnee: General Electric Company FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Wed: 1971 376,875 7/1932 Great Britain ..292/87 [21] Appl. No.: 188,124

Primary ExaminerAlbert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney-Frank L. Neuhauser et al. [52] US. Cl. ..292/87, 220/55 k, 292/175 [51] Int. Cl. ..E05c 1/10 57 S A T [58] Field of Search ..292/74, 75, 76, 77, 87, 175,

292"); 33 220,55 K A one-piece self biasing plastic latch member for retaining a movable closure member to a stationary member having a bolt member with integrally formed [56] References Cited flexible arms adapted to bias the bolt member to an UNITED STATES PATENTS operative position for engagement by the stationary member. The latch may include a handle formed in- Young tegra] the member 1,175,775 3/1916 Kuskey.... .....292/76 2,090,886 8/1937 Dion ..292/87 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures LATCHING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a latch for retaining a hinged closure member to a stationary member including a housing having a one piece plastic latching member disposed therein; the latching member being the sole moving part for maintaining the latch in proper operative engagement with a strike.

Prior latching devices such as U. S. Pat. No. 2,804,329 to E. H. Landis, frequently include separate parts for operating the latching device, e.g., a bolt member and a separate spring means for biasing the bolt into an operative position. The use ofa plurality of parts is disadvantageous in that it requires additional steps in assembly and, in many instances, the separate parts are metal and require close tolerances which result in costly machined parts. Attempts have been made to provide plastic latches such as U. S. Pat. No. 3,479,075 to E. .I. Swanno, which provides a one-piece latching member. However, the design shown therein does not lend itself to an ordinary simple cabinet latch especially one in which the latch member moves parallel to the face of the door.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an economically constructed latching device employing a minimum of parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By this invention, there is provided a housing including a T-shaped recess for receiving a one-piece plastic latching member for retaining a hinged door to a stationary member. The latching member has a bolt section disposed in the main leg portion of the recess and is provided with a latch face extending from the housing into cooperative relationship with a strike on the stationary member. Formed integral with the bolt section opposite the latch face are resilient arms extending into the cross portions of the T-shaped recess. The outer ends of the resilient arms are provided with bulbous bearing means engaging the rear wall of the cross portion to bias the bolt section and its latch face into cooperative relationship with the strike on the stationary member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view with parts removed illustrating the latching member of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the details of the latch of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the latching device is contained in a housing which, in the illustrated embodiment, forms a part of a movable closure member or door 11 pivotally supported at one side by hinges (not shown). The door 11 may be a hinged closure member for a clothes washing machine, cabinet or other enclosure requiring an access closure.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the particular modification shown since the entire latch can be made as a separate item and suitably secured to a door. The latch of the present invention will therefore be described with specific reference to its unique one-piece latching component and without reference to the manner in which it may be mounted on or form part of a door.

The illustrated housing 10 comprises a generally T- shaped recess 12 molded as an integral part of the inner wall or the door 11. The T-shaped recess 12 includes a leg portion or channel 13 terminating at one end in an opening 14 located in the front face of the door 11. The other end of the leg 13 communicates with a cross portion or channel 15 disposed perpendicular thereto and extending outwardly therefrom.

Located in operative relationship in the recess 12 is a resilient one-piece generally T-shaped plastic latch member 18 which may be made of a resilient or elastic material such as polypropylene. When the recess 12 is provided in the door, the latch member 18 is retained in said recess by the inner door panel 19 forming one wall of the latch housing.

The latch 18 includes a main body or bolt section 20 which is slidably received in channel 13. One end of the bolt 20 includes an operating or cammed latch face 21 extending through the opening 14. As seen in FIG. 2, the latch face 21 in its normally operative or latched position engages a keeper or strike 22 which, in the present embodiment, is formed on the stationary member or cabinet 23.

In order to hold the bolt 20 and latch face 21 in latching relationship with the strike 22 when the closure member 10 is in its closed position, the end of bolt 20 opposite the face 21 includes a pair of integrally formed resilient arms 24. The arms 24 are arcuate in configuration and extend outwardly and rearwardly from the rear of bolt section 20 so as to be spaced at their outer extremity from the front wall of the cross portion 15. Each of the arms 24 carries at their ends thereof an enlarged bulbous bearing portion 26 integral with and extending rearwardly from the main portion of arms 24. The bearing portions 26 engage the rear wall to bias the bolt 20 outwardly into operative position. When the bolt 20 is biased in its normal latched position, the arms 24 adjacent the bolt 20 contact the front wall of the cross portion to limit the forward movement of the bolt.

In operation, when the closure member is closed and the cam face 21 contacts the keeper 22, the resilient arms 24 yield to allow the bolt 20 to move inwardly and the cam face 21 to ride over the keeper 22 and into a latch position. As the bolt 20 moves rearwardly, the arms 24 flex causing the bearing portions 26 to rotate on the rear wall. To minimize the friction during rotational movement of the bearings 26 on the wall, the bearing surfaces are arcuate so that the points of contact are restricted to the tangent of the arc and wall.

The above described operation of the member 18 is repeated manually when it is'desired to unlatch the closure member 11 from a stationary member 23. To this tially consisting of only a housing or equivalent means for mounting the latching member on a door, and a latching member having integrally formed bolt and spring arms that provide the sole means for supporting the latch end in proper operative position within the housing, and for biasing the bolt into engagement with the strike.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, there has been described what, at present, is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A latch for retaining a movable closure member to a stationary member comprising:

housing means defining a T-shaped recess including a leg portion having an opening at the forward end thereof and a cross portion at the rear end at right angles thereto;

a one-piece plastic latch member disposed in said recess;

said latch member having a bolt section slidably mounted in said leg portion of said recess;

one end of said bolt section having a latch face extending through said opening into latching relationship with said stationary member;

a pair of resilient arms formed integral with and extending outwardly from the other end of said bolt section into said cross portion;

the ends of said resilient arms having enlarged bearing means formed thereon in engagement with the rear wall of said cross portion for biasing said latch member forward into latching relationship with said stationary member;

the forward surface of said resilient arms adjacent said bolt section normally engaging the front wall of said cross portion for limiting the forward movement of said bolt section;

said bearing means being spaced from said front wall of said cross portion when said latch member is in a latched position for allowing rotational movement of said bearing means upon flexure of said resilient arms when said bolt section is moved rearwardly in said leg portion for releasing said latch end from said stationary member.

2. A latch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bearing means are provided with arcuate bearing faces.

3. A latch as set forth in claim 2, wherein the bearing means extends rearwardly from said resilient arms.

4. A latch as set forth in claim 3, wherein the resilient arms are arcuate and extend outwardly and rearwardly.

5. A one-piece resilient latch as set forth in claim 4,

wherein a handle is formed integral with said bolt section and projecting therefrom for manually retracting said bolt section. 

1. A latch for retaining a movable closure member to a stationary member comprising: housing means defining a T-shaped recess including a leg portion having an opening at the forward end thereof and a cross portion at the rear end at right angles thereto; a one-piece plastic latch member disposed in said recess; said latch member having a bolt section slidably mounted in said leg portion of said recess; one end of said bolt section having a latch face extending through said opening into latching relationship with said stationary member; a pair of resilient arms formed integral with and extending outwardly from the other end of said bolt section into said cross portion; the ends of said resilient arms having enlarged bearing means formed thereon in engagement with the rear wall of said cross portion for biasing said latch member forward into latching relationship with said stationary member; the forward surface of said resilient arms adjacent said bolt section normally engaging the front wall of said cross portion for limiting the forward movement of said bolt section; said bearing means being spaced from said front wall of said cross portion when said latch member is in a latched position for allowing rotational movement of said bearing means upon flexure of said resilient arms when said bolt section is moved rearwardly in said leg portion for releasing said latch end from said stationary member.
 2. A latch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bearing means are provided with arcuate bearing faces.
 3. A latch as set forth in claim 2, wherein the bearing means extends rearwardly from said resilient arms.
 4. A latch as set forth in claim 3, wherein the resilient arms are arcuate and extend outwardly and rearwardly.
 5. A one-piece resilient latch as set forth in claim 4, wherein a handle is formed integral with said bolt section and projecting therefrom for manually retracting said bolt section. 